Webflow vs. BigCommerce: a data-backed comparison

Explore Webflow and BigCommerce features, pricing, adoption trends, and ideal use cases to help you determine which platform best fits your team.

Webflow vs. BigCommerce at a glance

Webflow is a no-code website builder targeting designers and marketing teams who want complete control over site appearance and content management. BigCommerce is an e-commerce platform with built-in payment processing, inventory management, and multi-channel selling. It suits businesses focused on growing and managing online retail operations.

Webflow overview

Webflow combines a visual design interface with a powerful CMS and global hosting infrastructure. It enables teams to create custom, responsive websites with precise control over design, interactions, and SEO settings. Webflow is ideal for marketing teams and agencies that need production-ready websites without heavy developer involvement.

Webflow key features

Features

Description

Visual website builder

Design and develop responsive websites visually using a drag-and-drop interface without writing code.

CMS and dynamic content

Create collections and manage content dynamically with custom fields, reference types, and structured templates.

Hosting and CDN integration

Host websites with built-in global CDN, SSL, and automated performance optimization.

Responsive layout control

Adjust grid, flexbox, and spacing for different screen sizes with breakpoints and device previews.

Custom animations and interactions

Build scroll effects, hover animations, and trigger-based interactions directly within the design interface.

Code export

Download production-ready HTML, CSS, and JavaScript for use outside of Webflow.

SEO and performance tools

Configure meta tags, alt text, and page hierarchy while benefiting from fast-loading, optimized pages by default.

BigCommerce overview

BigCommerce is an e-commerce platform providing end-to-end online store management, including product catalogs, checkout, payment gateways, and order fulfillment. It offers built-in marketing tools, multi-channel integrations, and advanced analytics. BigCommerce is best suited for retailers and brands aiming to scale online sales with flexible customization and powerful e-commerce features.

BigCommerce key features

Features

Description

Storefront design

Create visually appealing, mobile-friendly online stores with intuitive drag-and-drop tools and customizable themes.

Product management

Manage product catalogs, variants, pricing rules, and bulk uploads efficiently.

Multi-channel selling

Sell on Amazon, eBay, Facebook, Instagram, and POS with integrated order and inventory management.

Payment and checkout

Offer multiple payment gateways, secure checkout, and support for various currencies.

SEO and marketing tools

Optimize site SEO, recover abandoned carts, run promotions, and integrate email marketing.

Analytics and reporting

Track sales, traffic, and customer behaviors with detailed dashboards.

Pros and cons

Tool

Pros

Cons

Webflow

  • Offers visual CMS and dynamic content management for custom collections and blogs
  • Provides integrated hosting with fast CDN delivery and SSL by default
  • Supports custom animations, interactions, and layout control using a no-code interface
  • Exports clean HTML/CSS/JS for developer handoff or migration
  • Built-in SEO tools and performance optimization features
  • Limited backend extensibility compared to traditional CMS platforms like WordPress
  • Collaboration features are basic unless on higher-tier plans
  • Not ideal for large-scale web apps requiring custom databases or server logic
  • Pricing can increase significantly with higher traffic or CMS item limits
  • Steeper learning curve for non-designers due to advanced layout tools and UI complexity

BigCommerce

  • Flexible storefront design with responsive themes and customization options.
  • Multi-channel selling to marketplaces, social media, and POS systems.
  • Comprehensive SEO and marketing tools built in.
  • Scalable pricing plans suitable for startups to large enterprises.
  • Robust analytics and reporting dashboards for business insights.
  • No free tier; entry cost may deter tiny businesses.
  • Customization options are limited compared to fully open-source platforms.
  • Some advanced features are only available on higher-tier plans.
  • Less control over backend logic for highly customized ecommerce workflows.
  • A smaller app ecosystem compared to some competitors, such as Shopify.

Use case scenarios

Webflow excels for teams focused on fully customized websites and content-driven marketing experiences, while BigCommerce is tailored for businesses prioritizing scalable e-commerce and multi-channel sales management.

When Webflow is the better choice

  • You need complete visual control over responsive website design and user experience.
  • You need content-rich sites with integrated CMS and SEO capabilities.
  • You need production-ready, clean code for further developer customization or migration.
  • You need advanced animation and interaction capabilities for engaging user experiences.
  • You need flexible hosting options with custom domain management and SSL certificates.

When BigCommerce is the better choice

  • You need an all-in-one e-commerce platform with product, inventory, and payment management.
  • You need multi-channel selling across marketplaces, social media, and POS.
  • You need built-in tools for promotions, analytics, and customer segmentation.
  • You need enterprise-level scalability with unlimited products and bandwidth.
  • You need comprehensive API integrations with third-party apps and services.

Time is money. Save both.